Car wash killed my Genny

[Vermillion3]

Ok folks this was a first for me, just curious if anyone else has had this happen to them. Took the Genny to the Car Wash for a full service clean. Took the key off the physical key and placed it in the key slot, got out of the car and left her running. When she came out of the car wash she was not running and they pushed her out to be dried. When I go to get in her the shifter will only move from D to N. Dash and radio display are on but pressing the ignition button will do nothing. I had to pop the shift release cap and depress the button with the physical key to get her into P; then and only then would the ignition button respond. Odd. I realize that the neutral safety switch would stop it from starting in D but N also?? Plus whats with the shifter locking up either.

 

[zielritter]

When you say you "took the key off of the physical key" do you mean that you pulled the physical key out of the remote FOB and put it in the door?

Did you take the FOB with you or leave it in the car? I would think that if it's the former that this might have caused the car to shut off thinking it was being stolen. I wouldn't see an issue with leaving it in the car though.

Regarding the drive/neutral issue, I came from 3 manuals car in a row and on multiple occasions I inadvertently shut the Genesis off without shifting to park. I couldn't turn the car back on until I held the brake and shifting to P, which it sounds like you weren't able to do.

 

[Vermillion3]

I separated the FOB from the metal key and inserted the FOB into the FOB slot on in the dash. Like when you give your keys to the valet you keep the metal key on the key ring and just give him the FOB. Odd the Key never left the car the only think I can think is that they pressed the ignition button thinking it was off and killed it while it was in drive.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

Interesting. I take mine to my local car wash that I've been using for 10 years. I just leave the whole key ring in the cup holder. Never had an issue with the car like you describe.

 

[homeofstone]

I think the start/stop button was pushed when the cart was in gear then one of the car wash guys messed up and tried to start it not in park and no foot on brake. The computer got out of sync.

 

[Vermillion3]

I think the start/stop button was pushed when the cart was in gear then one of the car wash guys messed up and tried to start it not in park and no foot on brake. The computer got out of sync.

Agreed the most disturbing part of it I guess was the fact that the gear selector became locked out. Hell if it had happened to the wife it most likely would have been towed to the nearest dealer as she would not have known what to do. Thanks gents for the input.

 

[my2wins]

Good to hear this tale. Helps to be aware of random possibilities ahead of time. Or I'd be towing mine to a dealer too :}

 

[tompass]

I keep the FOB in my pocket when I leave car for guys to run through wash and have never had a problem other than long beep when I first exit the car.

 

[PMCErnie]

Scratching my head. My recollection from the manual is that the fob is only intended to be placed in the fob slot if the push button fails to start the car. When my car is washed, I leave the fob in the console drink holder.

 

[homeofstone]

Scratching my head. My recollection from the manual is that the fob is only intended to be placed in the fob slot if the push button fails to start the car. When my car is washed, I leave the fob in the console drink holder.

Me too.

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[Retry]

Interesting scenario... You might try what I do, hand wash the Genny myself. Never had a problem with the engine going dead or the shifter hanging up, and it's also cheaper. (Just being a little sarcastic here.)

 

[kpxnsfcxkp]

Ok folks this was a first for me, just curious if anyone else has had this happen to them. Took the Genny to the Car Wash for a full service clean. Took the key off the physical key and placed it in the key slot, got out of the car and left her running. When she came out of the car wash she was not running and they pushed her out to be dried. When I go to get in her the shifter will only move from D to N. Dash and radio display are on but pressing the ignition button will do nothing. I had to pop the shift release cap and depress the button with the physical key to get her into P; then and only then would the ignition button respond. Odd. I realize that the neutral safety switch would stop it from starting in D but N also?? Plus whats with the shifter locking up either.

It sounds like you had some problem with your brake switch.

 

[mikec]

Dash slot for the fob is intended mainly as a backup in case the fob battery dies; using the dash slot lets the car use alternate ways to detecting and authorizing the fob to allow engine start-up. It is a handy place to just stash the fob too; many folks do that instead of leaving it in the ash tray, cup holders, etc.

As for the transmission being locked in a gear... on my 2009, if the vehicle is shut off with the transmission not in Parkl:
1: the car basically goes into what key-based systems did in the "ACC" (Accessories) position: engine is off, radio and some accessories will work but not everything (e.g. sunroof). On the Genesis, this is a way to shut the engine off but leave the stereo ON or leave the Bluetooth linked to your cell phone so an in-progress call can be completed. Instrument panel (tachometer and speedometer) go dark.

2: transmission lever is locked when this happens, even if the brake is depressed.

3: engine won't re-start unless shift lever is in N (or P of course). I just verified my 2009 will start with the lever in N.

4: Now, pushing the START button without pressing the brake pedal makes the car act as if a key-based system had the key turned to just the "ON" position: the engine doesn't start but everything else works: sunroof, instrument panel lights up, transmission lever can be moved once the brake pedal is pushed, etc. Putting the lever into "P" now, and then pressing START, will fully turn the whole car OFF.

For the original poster, it sounds like the engine was shut off with the transmission not in Park... probably in Neutral. If really in Neutral, the engine should have re-started if the START button was pushed at the same time as the brake pedal. Since it didn't start, I'd suspect the Park-Neutral safety switch is messed up. Just pressing START alone (not pushing the brake pedal) should have brought the car to the "ON" state, allowing the shift lever to be moved to Park normally (with the brake pedal now depressed) and not requiring the use of the shift lock override. Then the car should start normally.

mike c.

 

[PMCErnie]

I don't recommend turning over your car to anyone with the fob hidden from plain sight.

 

[Crusty Old Shellback]

When I first got the car, I went thru the hassle of removing the fob and putting it in the slot. Then I started just putting the fob in the slot with the keys still attached. Then I decided it wasn't worth the hassle or possibly scratching the console so I just dump them in the cup holder. I know these guys fairly well and trust them so I have no problem turning over the car with the fob in the cup holder.

 

[Vermillion3]

Good to know I too thought that from the manual the key fob slot in the dash was a place to put the key if you so choose to do so as well as the procedure to follow when the key fob is not detected.

I mostly do wash my own ride when I can, but black cars attract dirt and dust like trailer parks attract tornadoes, so sometimes a quick wash at the local car wash is needed to get her strac and standing tall and again.

The use of the fob slot may in fact be the problem; so I will start just leaving the fob sans the metal key in the cup holder or ash tray as many of you have recommended.

Thanks again Gents for the info and input.

 

[NSXNEXT]

If you're really that worried about someone taking the key I would suggest finding another car wash.

 

[Vermillion3]

If you're really that worried about someone taking the key I would suggest finding another car wash.

LOL no I'm not worried at all about my keys falling into the wrong hands or vacuum hose its just that the fob is not the easiest to get off my key ring and I do not want the rest of my keys scratching the center console. It has nothing to do with trust and more to do with keeping scratches and dings out of the cars center console area that's all.